Keighley Cougars have continued their re-building process by re-signing 22-year-old loose forward Rob Roberts until the end of the season.

The much-travelled player, who has played with Hunslet and York this season, signed last night after training with Keighley this week.

He was due to play for the A team against Workington at Cougar Park today and coach Steve Deakin says if there are no problems he will come into contention for the first team's home game against Sheffield tomorrow.

Roberts, who originally joined Keighley as a teenager from East Leeds amateur club in 1995-6 played in the Cougars side when Darryl Powell was coach.

He went to Leeds, but didn't take his chance there and since then he has had spells at Hull and Halifax and joined Hunslet after a brief spell at Keighley Albion.

Roberts has a lot of potential, but temperament and disciplinary problems have held him back.

His temperament doesn't worry Deakin, though. "Rob is a good player," he said, "but he has very much underachieved. He went to Hull in Super League and I don't think he could handle it. Hopefully he is more mature now.

"Rob is a back row forward and that is a position where we have been a bit thin on the ground. He will also bring some extra footballing ability to the side."

Despite having to re-build his team after losing ten senior players when the club hit financial problems last month, Deakin is still hoping that Keighley can reach the play-offs. He is aiming for three wins from their last six matches to hold on to a play-off place.

Deakin, who was assistant coach at Sheffield when they sensationally beat Wigan in the 1998 Challenge Cup final said: "They had a great result when they beat Hunslet 42-10.

"Their kicking game is as good as anyone in the Northern Ford Premiership when Mark Aston is in the side. In fact, Sheffield used to have the best kicking game in Super League and Mark Aston was responsible for it.

"Richard Goddard is an outstanding footballer and John Bruce helps them forward, but if we can produce the same energy and enthusiasm that we did against Dewsbury in our last match I will be pleased. We hope to show that approach for the rest of the season.

"It was an outstanding effort and we were only beaten by tries in the last minute of each half."

Back row forward or centre Stuart Calvert, who has been out of action following an eye operation and centre or stand-off Chris Wainwright, who has had a groin injury were test their fitness in the A team..

Keighley Cougars (from): Hogg, Hobson, Hooson, Smith, Tomlinson, Foster, Holker, Hannah, Ramshaw, Morphet, Best, Simeonvich, Sanchez, Shaw, Kirk, Richardson, Gwillam, Antonik, Ashton, Stephenson, Roberts.